text:
In The Keeper of Lost Causes, Jussi Adler-Olsen introduced Detective Carl Mørck, a deeply flawed, brilliant detective newly assigned to run Department Q, the home of Copenhagen's coldest cases. The result wasn't what Mørck - or readers - expected, but by the opening of Adler-Olsen's shocking, fast-paced follow-up, Mørck is satisfied with the notion of picking up long-cold leads. So he's naturally intrigued when a closed case lands on his desk: A brother and sister were brutally murdered two decades earlier, and one of the suspects - part of a group of privileged boarding-school students - confessed and was convicted.
But once Mørck reopens the files, it becomes clear that all is not what it seems. Looking into the supposedly solved case leads him to Kimmie, a woman living on the streets, stealing to survive. Kimmie has mastered evading the police, but now they aren't the only ones looking for her. Because Kimmie has secrets that certain influential individuals would kill to keep buried... as well as one of her own that could turn everything on its head.
Every bit as pulse-pounding as the book that launched the series, The Absent One delivers further proof that Jussi Adler-Olsen is one of the world's premier thriller writers.
©2012 Jussi Adler-Olsen (P)2012 Penguin Audio
Retired "Okie" librarian & happy to have found Audible for good stories & staying in touch with new authors & books.
"Who knew?"
Titles can tell much about a book. The Danish title is "The Pheasant Killers", the U.K. title "Disgrace" is apt, and the U.S. is "The Absent One". If you listen to this story, you may see the relevance of each version. I so enjoyed "Keeper of lost Causes", (Danish "The Woman in the Cage", U.K. title "Mercy"), that I bought the 2nd in the series as soon as it was available on Audible and saved the "listen" for a rainy day. Sorry I did!
I usually relish international crime and especially British & recently Nordic Noir. In the first novel the author avoided brutal violence. But "The Absent One" is a big disappointment with detailed & repetitive sadistic brutality to humans and animals. Senseless! Few reviews I have found, warn of the explicit ruthlessness. For me this is beyond rating XX. Be forewarned neither the author nor translator glossed over the violence.
Only Steven Pacey's narration has any redeeming feature & even it is brought low by the unpleasantness. The British & other accented Danish characters are not a distraction for me because I can accept some Danes do speek this way & if they were speaking in Danish I would not be able to understand them. If the characters spoke in American accented English, the book would seem much less international to me!
The storyline is more a police (Dept. Q) procedural with a 3 way search for individuals. We know who the perpetrators are from the beginning. The interaction between Morck, the Dept. Q staffers, other officers & Danish public is the only relief from the depravity of the story of the pheasant killers. It shows humor & binds the 2 novels together. The next installment "A Conspiracy of Faith", (Danish "Message in a Bottle", U.K. "Redemption") will have to wait while I recover & buy another Karin Fossum mystery.
"Great story, great characters, wrong narrator"
The story was very original and dark. There was no formula.
Yes. By being different than the typical crime novel in making the despicable protagonist a sympathetic character
The first book was narrated by a guy with an accent from the area where the story takes place. This narrator was doing some sort of bad Eliza Doolittle impression. If a book is based in another country, the narrator should be striving to put us in that country. This narrator put us in 19th century London.
Not so much.
I like this author a lot. I like these characters a lot.
"New favorite author"
Top 25 percent
Enjoyed the story development. Enough "I didn't see that coming" to keep me on my toes.
No. At first I missed Erik Davies but then fell into step with Pacey and enjoyed his narration as well
Pretty much
Anxious for Adler-Olsen's third book translation. This is a lot like I felt reading Steig Larsson....but Adler-Olsen is a little less graphic!
"Please, Audible, get the next in the series."
Not another Swede
Not that I have anything against Swedist detectives. In fact, I have listened to most of them and like the genre, but try the one from Denmark! Like all Scandinavian detectives, Adler-Olsen's hero is a little broody, but the cast around Detective Carl Morck is a kick. His villians are the worst and they are always plural. You do just have one bad guy to hunt down but rather a cast of evil, very twisted characters.
I wish the narrators had been the same for both books and I might favor Erik Davies who did The Keeper of Lost Causes over Steven Pacey who performed this one, but both do a more than credible job.
There are two more in the series that have been published but am not certain they have been translated. I fervently hope that Audible will make then available when they are.
Would've been better
My disappointment upon hearing the narrator. I couldn't get past it although I tried. I kept thinking of a skinny little Englishman not a big brooding dane
The first book narration set the mood for me. The narrators accent seemed more fitting for the subject matter this narrators Kings English accent is would be better suited for a different series.
I thought the book was great, I liked the writers style and the characters. I will read/listen to more of this authors books as I notice there is a different narrator for the rest.
"Great story done justice by a great reader"
Yes! Steven Pacey does a great job of bringing to life the world of Department Q.
The plot is smart and twisted and brought to life by quirky and complex characters.
This is my first Steven Pacey book.
Erik Davies read the first book in this series, Keeper of Lost Causes. It was an adjustment to switch to Steven Pacey, but he did the book justice. I think you really have to read the first book to truly appreciate the second one.
Don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Trip's cool though. Use Audible to make gym-training sane... And rip my imagination.
"Into Withdrawal...Can't wait for the next Dept. Q!"
Weirdly haunting. Carl Mørck is strangely intriguing. His dank character interplays with the grayness of Jussi Adler-Olsen's Denmark. He peers about the culture like a flashlight into murk collecting pieces for us to support his finely plotted tale. This is the second chapter in Merck's tale and ideally you should start with "The Keeper Of Lost Causes" to fill in the background - and enjoy an entirely different storyline. Warning... Merck's not for the squeamish... this is adult stuff, but stuffed into a satisfying treat.
Beginning to shudder now... waiting for the next Dept. Q investigation. Soon?
Avid reader, loves suspense, classics, and any books that are well written no matter the genre.
"Thoroughly Enjoyable Listen"
Book 2 of this new series was an entertaining listen. The main character was more fully developed in this book and the interactions between Carl and his assistants, Assad and Rose, (in Dept.Q) made for a lot of humor in an otherwise depressing case. The premise was a bit out there but it made no difference as I followed the sequence of events to the final conclusion. The end was inevitable and well written making me long for another book and a few more hours with this cast of characters. Really enjoyed the reader as well.
I gave this book 5 stars as it kept me hooked into listening and finishing it in a couple of days!!
"Deep nastiness"
I'm not sure I will listen to this book again, since the characters are so evil and the life of Carl Morck is such a downer I can't really say that reading it is a pleasurable experience. In fact, after the first book, I didn't think I wanted to tough out another one, but now I can't wait for the next book to come out. It looks like, based on the pace of producing the first two, maybe it will be another year? I've marked my calendar, Audible.
I think Jussi Adler-Olsen has a unique style, so the only comparable book would be Keeper of Lost Causes. His depiction of villains is uncompromising; nothing comic or in any way redeeming or even distracting. Of course, in this book one of the villains saves the day in the end, but that was really kind of an accident. He doesn't let anyone off the hook.
Steven Pacey did well enough that I didn't really have to pay any attention to him. I'd say he did a solid professional job
Everything that happened in that menagerie made me want to throw up. I would prefer that authors confine themselves to human victims, since humans at least have some hope of control, and have laws to protect them as well. I would prefer that animals and small children be off limits, but it's not like your overgrown schoolyard bully is going to pick on anyone that can defend him/her/itself, so I guess we just have to accept the realism of the plot.
"Just absolutely excellent."
One of the best of the wonderful Scandinavian authors to be revealed because of the Millenium Trilogy. One of the very best I've listened to overall.
This book takes off from the very first page. Detective Carl Merck and his Department Q deal with cold cases, nothing new these days, but their uniqueness and complicated lives take readers on an enticing and can't put the book down ride.
Jussi AdlerOlsen's first book The Keeper of Lost Causes available on Audible which this book is a Department Q follow up is a must read too. Cannot wait until the next two books in this series are available.
There are no listener reviews for this title yet.


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Nature protection and biodiversity (Spain)
Why should we care about this issue
- Topic
- Nature and biodiversity
Biodiversity loss affects all the world's biogeographical regions. This process is affecting all of the planet's terrestrial and marine ecosystems and, as a consequence, the natural resources on which the existence of human beings depends are in danger.
Spain has a substantial natural heritage and has EU's highest number of taxa (almost 80 000). It also has a high number of endemisms, especially in the Canary Islands. Likewise, it has one of EU's largest percentages of protected area (27.7 % of national territory), including both Protected Areas created under Spanish legislation and those included in the Natura 2000 network.
Spain's extensive coastline (over 10 000 km) hosts substantial marine and coastal environment. The coastal strip is also home to the majority of the country's population (44 % of inhabitants live in coastal municipalities that represent barely 7 % of national territory). Furthermore, the coastal strip is also used for a significant volume of economic activity (in 2009, 87 % of Spain's 45,4 million of foreign tourists spend their holidays on the coast). In addition, the country's extensive agricultural and forest areas (24.8 million ha of utilised agricultural area and 27.6 million ha of forest) contain a large number of agricultural, forest and transitional ecosystems that have emerged as a result of human activity within the natural environment.
The state and impacts
Spain has two clearly defined types of protected natural area: Protected Areas –PA (designated under Law 42/2007, on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity) and protection granted by inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. Spain's protected natural areas also include those covered by international instruments, such as Wetlands of International Importance (designated under the Ramsar Convention) and Biosphere Reserves. In 2009, the country had 1 519 Protected Areas (PAs) covering a total of 6 174 788 ha (terrestrial and marine). As a result, in 2009, protected areas accounted for 11.7 % of Spain's total land area.
Moreover, 27.6 % of Spain's land area was protected either as a designated PA or by inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. It should be noted that a significant part of the land area designated as PAs also forms part of the Natura 2000 network and that, consequently, adding the two totals together does not produce the total area protected by both.
In 2009, Spain had 1 435 SCIs covering a total area of 12 623 056 ha (11 606 347 terrestrial ha and 1 016 708 marine ha). These accounted for 24.94 % of the country's total land area. Also 594 SPAs covered an area of 10 334 304 ha (10 063 831 terrestrial and 270 473 marine ha). These accounted for 20.92 % of the country's land area.
Among Spain's protected areas, its National Parks (NPs) are particularly important and conservation of these natural areas of high ecological and cultural value has been declared an issue of national interest. Spain currently has 14 NPs and also perform significant educational and leisure functions (in 2008 the National Parks Network's 347,030 ha received over 10.2 million visitors and in 2009 this amount was 9.9 million visitor).
At present, Spain has 40 Biosphere Reserves, one of which is shared with Morocco and another with Portugal and give Spain the world's third-highest number of such reserves after the United States and the Russian Federation. By 2009, Spain had 68 Ramsar sites covering an area of 284 921 64.
A major problem in natural areas is forest fires. Some years, the impact can be particularly damaging, as was the case in 1994 when 437 635 ha caught fire. Over the period 1990–2009, there was an average of 18,247 forest fires per year. Fortunately, the average area affected per forest fire is decreasing, demonstrating that preventive and fire-fighting measures are becoming increasingly effective. Over the period 1995–2009, 93 human lives were lost to forest fires.
If terrestrial mammals are excluded from the data, only 10–35 % of Spain's endangered taxa are listed in the country's Catalogue of Endangered Species. In the case of vascular flora, the percentage is particularly low (10 %). The figures for fish and amphibians (25 % and 18 %, respectively) are also low given the conservation needs of these groups, which contain a large number of endemisms. Birds and reptiles account for approximately one third of the taxa catalogued as endangered, while for mammals the percentage of catalogued endangered species stands at a more satisfactory 76 %. These figures reveal that a greater proportion of taxonomic groups containing emblematic species (mammals and birds) has been catalogued than of other less visible ones, such as vascular plants and amphibians.
Trends in bird populations provide an indicator of the state of ecosystems and biodiversity, as birds are highly sensitive to changes in their habitats. These data therefore provide a means of analysing the state of conservation of the habitats in which they live. In the last decade there has been an increase in populations related to forest ecosystem, stability in urban bird populations, in those associated with aquatic and the migratory species, and a decline in the populations related to agricultural resources. Trends observed over the last decade are summarised in the graph.
The publication 'Environmental Profile of Spain, 2009' provides more information on natural areas, forest ecosystems (area and damage) species (threatened, invasive and the population trends of common birds) and environmental monitoring. There are more information about other topics of interest such as drought, erosion processes and desertification.
- Spanish Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM), various years. Environmental Profile of Spain. Indicator-based report. http://www.mma.es/portal/secciones/calidad_contaminacion/indicadores_ambientales/
- Spanish National Institute of Statistics. Website query: INEbase/Demography and population/Population figures and Demographic Censuses. http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=%2Ft20%2Fe260&file=inebase&L
- Spanish State Meteorological Agency, MARM. http://www.aemet.es/es/portada
- MARM. Biodiversity website. http://www.mma.es/portal/secciones/biodiversidad/
- Forest fire defence, MARM. http://www.mma.es/portal/secciones/biodiversidad/defensa_incendios/
The key drivers and pressures
The increase in population and economic growth have led to an increase in exploitation of natural resources (soil, water, energy, etc.) and pressures on the environment.
Population growth has also driven up demand for housing and, consequently, increased the amount of built-up and artificial areas at the expense of agricultural and natural areas. Spain's population has risen rapidly in recent years to reach a total of 46,745,807 inhabitants in 2009. Over the period 2000-2009, the population increased by 15.4 %.
The current global economic and financial crisis has had a major impact on the Spanish economy, which has become highly dependent on consumption, international tourism and the construction industry.
Transport and transport infrastructure: This sector has developed enormously in Spain and in 2007 accounted for 5 % of Gross Value Added and employed 700,000 people.
The pressure exerted by terrestrial transport (road and rail) on biodiversity is not restricted solely to pollutant emissions, since transport infrastructure also fragments territories and habitats. Noise is another transport-derived pressure and can reach high and very high levels in and around urban agglomerations and airports. Strategic Noise Maps show that a total of 8,130,800 people living in large urban conurbations were affected by noise from road and rail traffic, airports and industrial facilities. Outside these conurbations, the number of people affected by major roads stood at 2,116,100, while those affected by major railways totalled 81,800 and the number affected by major airports reached 143,700.
Energy: Energy production and consumption exert severe pressures on the environment and human health. Energy consumption in Spain rose in recent decades with economic development and the increase of transport, industry, services and the domestic sector. However, the pace of increase has slowed since 2008. In fact, the final energy consumption in Spain In 2009 (including non-energy consumptions) was 97,776 ktoe, 7.4% lower than in 2008.
Tourism: Since 1995, Spain has received growing numbers of foreign tourists (the total rose from 34.9 million in 1995 to 52.2 million in 2009). In 2009, the country received 1.12 foreign tourists per resident. The pressure exerted by tourism on biodiversity derives from changes in land use, soil compaction and increased construction in coastal areas, greater atmospheric pollution by road and air traffic and increased consumption of resources.
Agriculture, livestock farming, forestry and fishing: Spain has EU's second-largest utilised agricultural area and the fourth-largest number of farms (2007). Water consumption and use of fertilisers and pesticides are causes of pressure on the environment. In 2008, irrigated land accounts for 13.7 % of utilised agricultural area and the amount of organic farmland stood at 1,317,750 ha in 2008. The average fertiliser consumption was 92.4 kg/ha and pesticide product consumption reached 2.81 kg/ha of active ingredient.
According to the latest available data, Spain's forest area, comprising woodland and other forest formations, covers over 27 million ha. Estimates indicate that the country's wooded area has increased by 6.5 % since 1995.
Spain's extensive and varied coastline has given rise to a long-standing fishing tradition. In recent years, average total catches have stood at around 1 million tonnes. At the same time, marine and inland aquaculture (both fish and molluscs) have increased, particularly in the last decade. Rationalisation of Spain's fishing fleet to meet European regulations has reduced it to 11,394 vessels (2008). European waters, among them the Spanish coastal waters, are habitually overfished and some species may already be below their safe biological limits.
Primary industry has unquestionable repercussions on the environment and, therefore, on biodiversity. However, these age-old activities are not in themselves the main or only reason for biodiversity loss. After all, traditional practices had established a symbiotic relationship between the environment and human activity that was mutually beneficial for centuries. The greatest danger comes from intensive resource exploitation in agriculture, livestock farming, forestry and fishing and from use of technologies that have an aggressive impact on fragile ecosystems.
- MARM, various years. Environmental Profile of Spain. Indicator-based report. http://www.mma.es/portal/secciones/calidad_contaminacion/indicadores_ambientales/
- Spanish National Institute of Statistics. Website query: INEbase / Demography and population / Population figures and Demographic Censuses. http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=%2Ft20%2Fe260&file=inebase&L
- Spanish Ministry of Public Works. http://www.fomento.es/mfom/lang_castellano/
- Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade, The Energy in Spain 2009. http://www.mityc.es/energia/balances/Balances/LibrosEnergia/Energia_2009.pdf
The 2020 outlook
Biodiversity in 2020 will depend on the balance achieved between:
- The main trends in development of Spain's economy and production sectors
- The success of the environmental policies applied
- The degree of involvement by public and private institutions
- The level of education and awareness among the general population
The world economic short-to-medium-term outlook is difficult to predict, which makes it equally hard to forecast future developments. Nevertheless, according to the latest data, the Spanish economy's growth has slowed. This has principally affected the construction industry and the situation will foreseeable continue for some time. This downturn may be considered positive in terms of halting biodiversity loss, as it will result in, for example, fewer GHG and other pollutant emissions, less urban development and less pressure on Spain's coast.
Remarkable efforts are being made to achieve sustainable use of water resources. Policies are being implemented to prevent air pollution and GHG emissions and expansion and development of the Natura 2000 network continues apace.
The balance between pressures, responses and society's awareness could well play a positive role in halting biodiversity loss by 2020.
Existing and planned responses
Some of the key measures and initiatives implemented in Spain to ensure sustainable management of the natural environment and prevent biodiversity loss are listed below.
- National strategies to conserve endangered species (1999–2008): The Spanish National Catalogue of Endangered Species is one of the catalogues that will be integrated into the National Inventory of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity under Law 42/2007, on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity.
- Protection of wetlands – Ramsar Convention (1982): Spain ratified the Ramsar Convention in 1982. In 2004, it created the Spanish National Wetlands Inventory, which is based on information provided by the country's regional governments. The Ramsar Convention lists a total of 68 Spanish wetlands covering 284.921 ha.
- Protection of coastal ecosystems: Spain has taken major steps towards achieving this objective and participates in the OSPAR Convention and the Barcelona Convention. At present, 9 of the 21 areas included in the list of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) are on the Spanish coastline. To date, the main protected areas are the Atlantic Islands National Park (since 2002), La Cabrera Archipelago National Park (1991) and the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Nature Park (1987), all of which comprise marine and terrestrial areas. In addition, the Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Law establishes a specific Marine Protected Area (MPA) category, the first of which is the 'El Cachucho' area located 60 km off the Asturian coast in the Bay of Biscay.
- Recent legislative initiatives (2007) – Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Law and Sustainable Rural Development Law: Looking towards the future, two pieces of national legislation will have a direct short-to-medium-term effect on all of Spain's biodiversity conservation plans and programmes. These are the Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Law and the Sustainable Rural Development Law, implementation of which takes every aspect of the natural environment into consideration.
- Law 42/2007, of 13 December 2008, on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity, establishes the basic legal framework for conservation, sustainable use, improvement and restoration of natural heritage and biodiversity and is based on the duty to conserve and the right to enjoy an environment appropriate for personal development.
- Law 45/2007, of 13 December 2007, on Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment, regulates and establishes basic measures to favour rural economic, social and environmental development to improve quality of life for the inhabitants of the rural environment whilst promoting protection and appropriate use of ecosystems and natural resources.
- MARM website. Biodiversity. http://www.mma.es/portal/secciones/biodiversidad/
- MARM: Public Action on the Environment, 5: Nature Conservation [Document 3: Protected Areas. Document 4: Biodiversity Conservation. Document 5: Forestry Policy and Desertification]. 2008. http://www.mma.es/secciones/el_ministerio/actuaciones_publicas/pdf/5_conservacion.pdf
- MARM. Statistical Yearbook. http://www.mapa.es/es/estadistica/pags/anuario/introduccion.htm
- MARM. Spain's natural, rural and marine environment 2009 [annual report], 2010. http://www.mapa.es/es/ministerio/pags/memoria/memoria.htm
- MARM. Environmental Profile of Spain. Indicator-based report (2004–2009 editions). http://www.mma.es/portal/secciones/calidad_contaminacion/indicadores_ambientales/
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: Biosphere Reserves, 2009. http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/contact.asp?code=SPA
For references, please go to www.eea.europa.eu/soer or scan the QR code.
This briefing is part of the EEA's report The European Environment - State and Outlook 2015. The EEA is an official agency of the EU, tasked with providing information on Europe's environment.
PDF generated on 31 Jan 2015, 09:40 AM

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Rated M for Questionable Content: An Argument for Vulgarity Over Maturity
Alt Title: Frank's Love Letter to Edmund McMillen.
Maturity. Typing it leaves a sting on my fingers. Saying it; a sour taste in my mouth. So-called auteurs of the gaming industry speak of it as though without 'maturity', the videogame can never be considered art. As though that if we don't put tasteful nudes, high-polygon graphics, crying-physics, and a story about the human condition, then Roger Ebert, a person only interested in writing about cinema, will never say that games "are kinda okay, I guess" (not an actual quote from Roger Ebert). It's gotten so bad that I've begun needing to imagine the word 'mature' with a small © next to it, because let's face it, maturity has become more of a checkbox than a concept.
This desperate need for some developers to have their work validated by people unimportant and indifferent to the games industry is nothing short of just sad. We need to have FOX News accept us! We need to have movie critics critique games! We must be validated! We must be validated!
But vapid affirmation is not my only gripe with mature© games. For one, maturity© in games is more formulaic than goddamned Pythagoras. Let's look at a few games that have been lauded as 'mature©':
Heavy Rain, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age: Origins.
Before I go any further though, I want to say that I do like these games, with a particular affection towards Mass Effect, it being one of my favorite games of all time.
In these games, there is a threat that opposes the main characters, at some point either the player character or the love interest (there almost always is one) will cry due to their past, and then there will be some sex scene, and then a bit later, the plot ends. Which game that I listed earlier am I talking about now? Now, these aren't genre tropes I'm listing, Heavy Rain is a 'cinematic drama' or whatever, Mass Effect is a 'space opera RPG-shooter', and DA:O is a 'fantasy RPG'. Maturity©, much like 'art game', is a genre in itself with its own clichés that developers seem to fall into when trying to be sophisticated.
Now, I'll be the first to admit that the above claim may be a bit weak, due to the fact that I only presented two story elements common to mature© games. But I'm not only here to bash maturity©. It has its place in games, and some people really think that that's the way to get their story across. Nothing wrong with that. It's always been my belief, though, that true maturity, not just maturity©, comes from knowing when to be immature.
In fact, vulgarity, when used right, may be the best way we can move the entire medium of videogames forward.
Take Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl's hit game, The Binding of Isaac, for example. Naked babies, blood, feces, urine, heavy christian imagery and mockery of said christianity. It was denied a port to Nintendo's 3DS portable system, not because of the graphic imagery and focus on the disgusting and the vile, but because the game involved religion at a level that begged for a discussion on the zealous actions of past and current followers of Christ.
"If there's blasphemous content it's probably fine… because blasphemy is in most games… everything is blasphemous for one religion and not for another." said McMillen in an Ars Techina article from last year, " Since demons and stuff are in games all the time, and that's considered blasphemous to some Christians, that's fine. I guess the way I talked about things in the game wasn't necessarily blasphemous, but also considered religious and something they don't want to deal with."
McMillen has been known in the past for never letting self-censorship come into play when putting themes into his games. Growing up in a strongly "born-again" christian family, McMillen's views on the religion are an expression of himself. His use of the disgusting and the grotesque is a further exploration of what it's like to be Edmund McMillen. Play his older flash games on his newgrounds page, and you'll see vomit, blood, and shit everywhere. It's who he is. If you ever played his hit game, Super Meat Boy, you can see themes of vulnerability in it. How the titular Meat Boy, a man devoid of skin, is susceptible to multiple hazards, even plain salt, and that he is always chasing after his stolen girlfriend, Bandage Girl, the only person who completes Meat Boy; she makes him feel safe.
Nowhere in a single one of Edmund's games do you find facetious themes like 'the human condition' or 'parenthood', or contrived romance scenes of plastic-doll sex, because Edmund knows that creating art is when you're supposed to be immature; to be yourself. And in doing so, his games are more mature than any mature© game on the market.
Back to his attempted porting of The Binding of Isaac to the 3DS, it's evident that the games industry still hasn't matured at all. While David Cage and Peter Molyneux make valiant efforts, they always fall short because they still don't understand true maturity.
"Here's why Nintendo said no, " McMillen said in the previously mentioned Ars Techina article, "Go to any website that talked about it and read the comments and look at the fucking religious wars that happen in it."
We can handle oversized breasts, severed limbs, guts, crap, pee, words like: "shit" and "fuck" said a million times to oversaturation. We can handle it when we genocide millions of virtual humans. Hell, we can even handle it when we and a few russians shoot up a fictional airport.
Do you know what we have yet to be able to handle? A serious discussion on religion that makes you think. We can't have people stopping their game to think about something in the real world, because when you think, you get scared, and when you get scared, you might just not buy a game that supports themes you don't like, and I'm damn sure a publisher would stick its junk in a blender before they give up a sale.
We changed the name of Al Qaeda to Insurgents in the Medal of Honor reboot because we can't have you think. We cancelled Six Days in Fallujah because we can't have you think. We couldn't have The Binding of Isaac published with an actual publisher because we can't have you think.
In the end, it's people like Edmund McMillen, one of the few actual artists in the games medium, who are going to push the artform forward. We don't need sex scenes, crying, and SO MANY POLYGONS! We need themes and ideas that will make you think about the world around you. Mature games should make you question your beliefs that you've put all your stock and life into. We need to be constantly pushing the boundaries of what is and what isn't acceptable to have in a game.
And you know what? If you want to just make a game full of breasts, wangs (we need more), and gore without any thought-provoking themes, then that's fine too, and I'll love every second of it (unless it sucks).
You can follow Frank on Twitter @Fuhjem.
5 thoughts on "Rated M for Questionable Content: An Argument for Vulgarity Over Maturity"
Pingback: We Are What We Play: "Spec Ops: The Line" Made Me Re-Think Videogames | Turtlecade
I think this is some serious backward-thinking. Vulgarity is the game industry's cop-out attempt at "maturity", and we've had enough of it. We need games that communicate interesting things through restraint and intelligent game design, not blood, feces, and genitalia.
I think there are room for both, if we do the whole "games at art" debate then movies have their fair share of the same alternate genres. I don't see why we cannot just have a little of everything and be happy, as gamers the amount of choice should be something we appreciated.
People can get their over the top action (Saints Row) yet if they choose not too, they can get a deep story driven game (Heavy Rain). Art has nudity, some of it not tasteful, but who cares…Choice is what I believe in and the fact we even have it, is something people take for granted.
I'll admit that a lot of what I was trying to get across got lost in the article. I typed up about half of it at my day job and then finished the rest a day later.
What I was trying to get across was that we need games that are going to push the idea that games can promote serious discussions on uncomfortable topics. Any game by David Cage or Peter Molyneux, while fantastic game designers (I love the Fable series), is playing it safe when it comes to its content. Sure they involved murder and sex, and they try to put it into an emotional context, but it never made e feel uncomfortable. I never once had to question if what I was playing was 'alright to play'.
I honestly think that it's strange that we consider the Call of Duty series neanderthal dreck when we have the No Russian level confronting us with the horrors of modern terrorism, taking us straight out of our comfort zone as the hero, or anti-hero, and putting us straight into the shoes of someone in an actual terrorist role. It was horrifying to play; I only shot people who were visibly suffering, in the head, in order to just make the suffering stop. It was a more powerful experience than anything I've played in a mature© game.
Then you take The Binding of Isaac and it shocks me how few games ever present a realistic view on christianity. It's setup was based off of the biblical tale of the same name in which god commanded a father to murder his own son because, let's face it, god was kind of a dick back then. The sheer existence of the game brought into question the extreme things christians do in the name of their god, and that was too much for a publisher to handle. It got people thinking about real world problems, something that few games do.
What we consider vulgar, as a society, are things like Six Days in Fallujah (DON'T MAKE THIS WAR A GAME!), Al Qaeda in Medal of Honor (DON'T BRING UP SOMETHING IN REAL LIFE!), and christianity in The Binding of Isaac (DON'T MAKE ME OR ANYONE ELSE QUESTION OUR BELIEFS!).
Without exploring these vulgar topics, without taking us out of our comfort zone, we're doomed to be playing "Dry this Child's Tears so You Think I'm Deep: The Game".
And for the record, big tits and dismemberment aren't what I'd consider vulgar. They're a safe bet for sales and they rarely bring up discussions on whether they should be in games or not. Vulgarity, for me at least, is something that makes people uncomfortable.
When was the last time Ninja Gaiden made you uncomfortable, what with it's ultra-tits and limbs literally made out of solid blood? They don't, because those are elements of fantasy. We can ignore them. Those tits and limbs have no bearing in the real world. It's terrorism and christianity and islam and child abuse that are things in the real world, and those are the topics we're too scared to play in games.


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For lovers of Swiss Deluxe Hotels
Located near the lake, Old City and Banking Centre, the Mandarin Oriental with its 190 spacious suites and rooms is the perfect place for both business person and holiday guest alike. 2 restaurants with first-class cuisine, 11 salons with natural lighting for receptions and conferences. These range from 36m2 to 265m2 and come with full technical facilities.Arrival
An imposing sight where the hotel rises over the swift-flowing River Rhône, Mandarin Oriental, Geneva is located on the right bank of the river and is at the heart of the banking, cultural and shopping districts. Its superb location in the city centre allows guests to wander by foot, in just a few minutes to the old town and the shopping district of Geneva. Many of the cities cultural and tourist sites are also within a few minutes walk of the hotel.


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Ecco dove avevo già visto l'uovo pinhole pubblicato su Wired di Agosto!!


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This Pokeball schematic t-shirt doubles as a sleeping pill because I no longer have to stay up late at night wondering how Pokeballs work. Okay, so maybe the functionality of Pokeballs isn't a source of insomnia for me, but it's still quite interesting to see that someone has taken it upon themselves to figure out the intricate mechanisms required to create a pocket monster-capturing device.
The Pokeball schematic t-shirt comes courtesy of BustedTees and is sure to appeal to those who are a little too old to be carrying around a Pokemon cartridge, but still can't let their favorite childhood video game go.


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The Avengers
Community Activity
Add a CommentIt's not a cure to cancer, but is a perfect translation of comic book to screen.
An hour and a half of mindless and virtually non-stop cg violence.
A great mu-ha-ha! villain, Loki, and plenty of noble superheros to go round.
LOVE this movie!! It does have quite a bit of violence and a tiny bit of language, but is otherwise very entertaining and really hilarious. Iron Man is really funny. Loki and Hawkeye are my favorite characters. I love the part where Loki tells Hulk he is a god, and Hulk calls him "puny god". REALLY GOOD!!!
The Avengers is a movie that is mostly full of action and is also great for the whole family to watch. Join the avengers on an exciting adventure to save the world. All of your favourite superheroes are in this movie. The movie consists of the most famous marvel heroes such as Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, and Black Widow as they team up together to save the world. This movie takes you on awesome adventures making you sit at the tip of your seat. This movie's rating is PG-13. It is rated as the best superhero movie of all time. I felt excited from watching this movie, and I hope that you will feel the same as well. The Hulk, to me, is the best part of the movie because it is so cool how he transforms from human to creature. This movie is not suitable for children under 5 because there is a lot of frightening scenes. The marvel comics spoiled some parts of the movie so you know that part was going to happen. The setting takes place mostly at the Stark Tower, and the place where they all stayed in. This movie is also related to the movie After Earth. In that movie there are more frightening scenes too. Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson did amazing job acting in this movie and so did the rest of the actors and actresses. Robert Downey Jr. ( Iron Man) ,Samuel L. Jackson ( Nick Fury), Scarlett Johansson( Black Widow), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Chris Hemsworth ( Thor), Mark Ruffalo ( Hulk), and Chris Evans ( Captain America), are the little exciting pieces that make this movie even more spectacular. I can't wait until they make an Avengers 2, if they do.
AVENGERS is what I call great escapism pertaining to an ensemble movie, but if action and superhoeroes are your thing, this movie will appeal to you. I loved the idea of having many of the classic Marvel Comics heroes in one film. A comic geek's idea of Heaven.
Good mindless entertainment. Plenty of action and drama, with just enough character development. My one problem is that if Hulk is insane with rage how can he know who to attack (Loki) and who not to attack? Doesn't seem like he should be able to be true to being the Hulk, and be a team member at the same time. Mindless rage and team work don't seem to match up real well to me.
I watched it once..then watched it again immediately after. It was very entertaining and engaging. I'll probably watch it a third time.
Add a QuoteCaptain America: You scared of a little lightening?
Loki: I'm not overly fond of what follows.
Tony Stark: "That man is playing Gallaga. Thought we wouldn't notice, but, we did. How does Fury even see these?"
Woman: "He turns."
Stark: "Sounds exhausting."
Loki: "... and then to be reminded of what real power is."
Nick Fury: "Well let me know if "real power" wants a magazine or something."
As Loki's coming out of his cell, Thor sees him and, yelling, hurls himself at Loki. Loki stiffens and Thor goes right through him. As the door automatically closes, Loki says "Are you ever NOT going to fall for that?"
(Dr. Banner just became human again)
"Did I hurt anybody?"
"No; you scared the heck out of some pigeons, though."
Loki:" You can't do anything to me! I am a god!" Hulk takes Loki by the arm and bangs him onto the floor left and right. Hulk:" Puny god!"
Add Age SuitabilityView All Ages
Add a NoticeFrightening or Intense Scenes: Quite a bit of frightening scenes not recommended for younger children
Add a SummaryLoki (Thor's brother) and his alien army attacks earth, the Avengers (Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Iron Man, and Black Widow) must join together and defeat him.
SHIELD director Nick Fury assembles together Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Captain America when Thor's brother and enemy Loki launches an attack on Earth. With an ensemble cast led by Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, this movie marks film history as it unites four of the world's mightiest of heroes of all time.


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Since switching to LiveRez, we've more than tripled our online booking rate.
In the time that we've been using LiveRez, the rate of growth in our business has doubled and our revenues have increased tremendously.
LiveRez has helped me grow from 6 properties to 57 properties in just one year. And we keep growing every day!
With LiveRez, our online bookings are up.
Choosing LiveRez was huge to our success.
LiveRez gave me my life back.
My business has almost tripled since I switched to LiveRez.
As the bookkeeper for a company that manages more than 200 properties, LiveRez's QuickBooks integration has saved me valuable time. It has to be my favorite part of the platform.
As a property manager for more than 20 years, I've dealt with a lot of software. I chose LiveRez because its web-based software lets me login from anywhere and continue to work.
My monthly online bookings have more than doubled from a year ago, thanks in large part to the great work LiveRez's Sam Martin has done for our SEO and SEM campaigns.
In the two years that we've been dealing with LiveRez, the rate of growth in our business has doubled and our revenues have increased tremendously. I really attribute a lot of that to the presence LiveRez has given us on the Internet.
LiveRez has made it happen at our property in South Padre Island, Texas. Our sales are up 22 percent this year, and customers really get it -- they can now book it themselves!
Our LiveRez-powered website was a major factor in us being able to switch completely to online bookings. We estimate that this change has saved us 30 to 45 percent of our time, allowing us to focus even more on marketing.
Through social media and utilizing LiveRez's SEO/SEM program, I've been able to eliminate the cost of advertising on sites like HomeAway and FlipKey and have not jeopardized in any way the number of reservations that have come through this year.
Our continued growth with LiveRez has surpassed our expectations. Their support network is extremely optimistic with every request we send their way, truly allowing us to remain a leader in our region.
LiveRez has helped me grow from 6 properties to 57 properties in just one year. And, we keep growing every day!
LiveRez helps us stand out in our localized vacation rental industry by offering us a site that far supersedes anything that any of our local competitors offer.
Because of LiveRez, I'm able to run my business on my own. I can run everything from wherever I am.
I attribute LiveRez to me being able to keep my doors open. And, more than just looking at green shoots of hope, we're actually seeing success here.
I went live with LiveRez in January of this year, and although it's only mid-July, I already have three times more online bookings than I had for all of 2010. This frees up my time to focus on revenue growth.
The high level of customer support and the robust suite of tools available with the LiveRez platform make our partnership with LiveRez a no brainer.


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Calling All Listeners For The 'NPR Cities Project'
Robert Siegel and Melissa Block ask for audience input for the NPR Cities Project, where Americans across the country share more about the heart of their city. Learn how to contribute pictures and sound at npr.org/nprcities. You can also follow the project on Twitter @nprcities.
Copyright © 2012 NPR. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.
Two weeks from today, we launch a new series called the NPR Cities Project.
We'll be reporting on issues that confront cities all over these days, issues that probably come up where you live.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I feel like there's more and more tools to reach out across the world, but it's still hard to reach out to your entire neighborhood.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: I think one of the great things about living in the city is that you really do sense - it has this fourth dimension of time. You know, as you walk down the street, you sense what was done 100 years ago, 50 years ago. And those are things we don't want to lose.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN #2: There have been approximately 18 restaurants that have opened up - and led to a real transformation of this neighborhood.
SIEGEL: We're asking for your input to the Cities Project. Tell us what you think of as the heart of your city; your favorite neighborhood or park, corner shop, hidden treasure. Send us your photos and your sound.
BLOCK: We love sound. Go to NPR.org/nprcities to contribute. And you can follow the project on Twitter @nprcities.
SIEGEL: This is NPR News.
Copyright © 2012 NPR. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to NPR. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.
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APS Healthcare, one of the country's leading specialty healthcare companies, today announced that it has been selected by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to provide utilization management services for the state's 600,000 SoonerCare (Medicaid) members. This contract represents a significant expansion of APS' relationship with Oklahoma, where APS has been providing informatics consulting services since 2002.
"We are excited about our new partnership with APS," said Mike Fogarty, CEO of OHCA. "APS' strong experience with other Medicaid programs shows that they understand the challenges that states are facing. I am confident that APS will work with us to ensure that our SoonerCare program reaches a high level of excellence."
"We are eager to work with OHCA to ensure Oklahoma's Medicaid members receive the quality healthcare they need," said David Hunsaker, president, APS' Public Programs division. "By ensuring SoonerCare members receive high quality healthcare and offering state-of-the-art health information technology for efficient decision support, we will help the state better manage overall healthcare resources."
APS is one of the country's leaders in providing services to Medicaid programs and currently serves clients representing more than 30 percent of the nation's Medicaid population. The Oklahoma utilization management contract builds on APS' core strength of combining informatics services, market leading technology and a clinically solid local delivery model to deliver programs that improve quality of care.
"The expansion of our relationship with Oklahoma confirms that APS is a leader in providing customized services to state Medicaid programs," said Eileen Auen, CEO, APS. "We are looking forward to strengthening our association with the state of Oklahoma."
The agreement took effect July 1, 2006, and will be administered out of APS' Oklahoma City service center.
About APS
APS Healthcare, headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., is a leading provider of specialty healthcare solutions that cover more than 20 million members in the United States and Puerto Rico. APS offers customized, integrated healthcare solutions across three major healthcare product lines - health management services, behavioral health services, and quality improvement programs. APS operates under the belief that managing healthcare for the mind and body improves overall health and reduces total healthcare spending. For more information, visit www.apshealthcare.com.


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Universal Fit
Audiofly AF561-1-01 56 Series Headset with Microphone, Vino
"full review here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/689006/review-audiofly-af56 The earphones were given about 40 hrs. The AF56 are not just an improvement over the AF45 in design and comfort, but also, and mainly, in Sound. They offer a much bigger and very lively sound with better overall balance. Not unlike the AF45 model, the bass is very dominating. But..." --Zelda
AudioFly AF78
"If you want to read me ramble on more about haptics and finish quality, head to Ω image's review. I know it is a year on and this earphone is no longer en vogue. However, I reviewed it. Take that world! ARggggh! Why has it taken so long for me to get this on? Well, because I take a long time. Yes, even if the review is short. And I've sort of changed opinions on a..." --shigzeo
Cowon EM1 In-Earphone
"These in ears are as cheap as it gets and you get what you pay for. Though when compared to similarly priced in ears a few things stand out. Build quality and looks are good. It comes with flat, relatively tangle free cord. Also its fairly resistant to micro phonics. It comes with 3 rubber tips, and I could not get perfect seal with any of them. I could hear faint noises. So its decent..." --vaibhavp
Audiofly 45 Series Headset with Microphone, Extra Virgin
"Build & Design: Great. Audiofly chose to use very good materials for the AF45. They're available in four colors: Black, White and Black, Green Olive, and Brown. Starting from the straight plug, it's very sturdy and well relieved. The housings, while are made of plastic, feel very sturdy too. They are lightweight but a bit on the large side. As for the cable, it's a Y-cable and one..." --Zelda


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Related Links:
CureSearch for Children's Cancer funds and supportstargeted and innovative children's cancer research with measurableresults, and is the authoritative source of information and resourcesfor all those affected by children's cancer.
The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped organ that sits below the "Adam's apple" in the front of the neck. The thyroid gland makes hormones that are necessary throughout life to regulate:
Thyroid cancer in children is rare. Only one in 1000-2000 children under age 20 are affected by thyroid cancer in the United States each year. Thyroid cancer is often cured. Survival rates among children diagnosed with thyroid cancer is nearly 95%. Both the incidence and the mortality rates increase with age.
There are four types of thyroid cancer in children:
Newly Diagnosed with Thyroid CancerIn Treatment for Thyroid CancerAfter Treatment for Thyroid Cancer
© CureSearch


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795 Northern Boulevard
Great Neck, NY 11021
Audi Certified pre-owned inspection is the industry's most rigorous.
If you are considering a new Audi vehicle, now is the perfect opportunity.
At Biener Audi of Great Neck we take pride in being one of the top Long Island Audi dealerships in the country. We accomplished this by providing excellent customer service to our valued customers from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau & Suffolk Counties. Whether you are looking for a new or used Audi, come visit our showroom to experience our top quality customer service and commitment to excellence.
Conveniently located in Great Neck, just east of Queens, on the North Shore of Long Island, Biener Audi is proud to offer a full Audi product line including the Audi A4, Audi S4, Audi A5, Audi S5, Audi A6, Audi A7, Audi A8, Audi Q5, Audi Q7 , Audi TT and Audi R8. From spacious to sporty, Biener Audi is your one quality source for all of your Audi needs.
We have many financing options for the purchase of your new or used Audi at Biener. Our reputation and position as one of the top Audi Dealers in Long Island puts us in the unique position of having various lenders available to assist our customers in putting together the best finance and lease packages.
At Biener Audi, our Audi dealership in New York offers a large variety of top of the line used vehicles. For used Audi models, or Certified Pre-Owned Audis, just come to Biener Audi of Great Neck. Our used and pre-owned vehicles look so great on our lot, you may even mistake them for new!
Our experienced sales professionals at Biener Audi are eager to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with you. We encourage you to browse our online new and used inventory, schedule a test drive, and investigate financing options. You can also request more information about a vehicle using our online form, or by calling (866) 218-9237.
If you don't see a particular vehicle you like, click on Car Finder and complete the form. We will gladly inform you when a matching car arrives. If you'd like to see a vehicle in person, click on Directions for step-by-step driving instructions to our site, or give us a call. We look forward to serving you!
Biener Audi has a large inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles to meet the specific needs of car buyers. As one of the premier Audi dealers for Brooklyn and Queens Counties and in Long Island, NY, we provide unparalleled solutions to assist clients in owning our certified pre-owned packages and flexible financing options. Customers can choose to lease a brand new Audi, or finance a certified pre-owned. There are so many options to choose from.
Our Audi dealer in Queens also takes pride in our Service Department's commitment to excellence in providing world-class automobile care services to our customers. Biener Audi has a handpicked team of highly skilled technicians, well-trained personnel, and a state-of-the-art service center to deliver outstanding repair and maintenance solutions. We are also a reliable source of genuine Audi parts and accessories. Try our service center and understand why our customers stay our customers for life.
So stop in to Biener Audi of Great Neck today. We are happy to answer any questions about our vehicles or award winning service department.


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On November 13-16, 2014, thousands of Mustangs returned to the Hilltop for Homecoming.
What a great experience, starting with the Distinguished Alumni, Emerging Leader and Centennial History Makers awards celebration and the lighting of a three-story SMU Mustang on Expressway Tower for the first time. Throughout the weekend, Brian Baumgartner '95 exemplified the "all in for Homecoming" spirit, talking with student groups and sampling Moody Magic on Friday, and serving as grand marshal of the parade on Saturday. View photo highlights of the class reunions and other events that made Homecoming 2014 truly memorable.


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Date: 1970-04-25 ca.
Description: View from side of stage of Rich Keane, wearing a felt bucket hat and a tie-dyed shirt, performing with Strophe band at the Sound Storm music festival. Stew...
Description: Close-up of Paul Cleary, keyboardist wearing a leather vest over a jean jacket on stage at the Sound Storm music festival. Behind him is Rich Keane,saxopho...
Date: 1910 ca.
Description: Stereoview of the Purdy house.
Description: Singer Minnie Ripperton performing with psychedelic soul band Rotary Connection on stage at the Sound Storm music festival.
Date: 1900 ca.
Description: Steele Tavern.
Description: View from below stage of singer Minnie Ripperton performing with psychedelic soul band Rotary Connection at the Sound Storm music festival. She is wearing...
Date: 1925 ca.
Description: The Pierre Pauquette monument located at the easterm terminus of the Wauona Trail. Erected by the Wau-bun Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revoluti...
Date: 1926
Description: Lake Wisconsin at Summerville Park. Boathouses, docks and fishing boats are along the shoreline.
Description: Sydney Simms, bassist for the psychedelic soul band Rotary Connection, on stage at the Sound Storm music festival. He is wearing a red, white and blue leat...
Description: A view of the Pierre Pauquette monument located at the eastern terminus of the Wauona Trail. Erected by the Wau-bun Chapter of the Daughters of the America...
Date: 1957-01-21
Description: Group portrait of the Lodi High School basketball team.
Date: 1930
Description: Side lawn of Fitzgerald's Modern Rooms. Children are sitting in the lawn swing in the foreground, and another lawn swing is in the background next to the g...
Description: Singer Minnie Ripperton, wearing a long, furry vest and holding a tambourine, performing with psychedelic soul band Rotary Connection on stage at the Sound...
Date: 1931
Description: A simple sign over the front door identifies the one-room Fairbanks School. A flag hangs from a pole mounted on the roof. The top of the door is ornamented...
Date: 1927
Description: Group portrait of family sitting on a bench in the foreground in front of a guest cottage. One boy sits on a porch railing behind the group. There is an au...
Date: 1930 ca.
Description: Detail of the second floor rear window from the interior of the Fort Winnebago hospital.
Date: 1909-05-03
Description: Colorized postcard of the Dells near Cambria. Text in upper left corner reads "'Dells,' Cambria, Wis."
Date: 1970-04-23 ca.
Description: A small area of farmland cleared to be the location of the stage on the York farm property which would shortly be the site of the Sound Storm music festiva...
Description: Crowded steamboat touring the Wisconsin Dells. There is a group of four people standing on the shore of the Wisconsin River looking on.
Description: Elevated view of Sound Storm music festival audience near the crowded stage.
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Staff News
Central High School Law and Government Magnet Program Dedicate New Courtroom/Classroom
Posted April 8th, 2014 by Virginia MattinglyThe Law and Government Magnet program was established at Central High School in 1986. Partnerships with the Louisville Bar Association (beginning in 1992) and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law (beginning in 2001) have built on the success of the program. Students in the program now serve in summer internships facilitated by the LBA and are taught substantive law and writing skills related to law by law students from the Brandeis School of Law. In recognition of the success of the program, the Jefferson County Public School System has renovated the law and government magnet classroom to create a courtroom. The new configuration allows students to practice courtroom skills and to apply what they are learning in that setting.
Pictured at right are: Professor Laura Rothstein, JCPS Board President Diana Porter, JCPS Superintendent Donna Hargens; Central High School Principal Dan Withers, Law Magnet Teacher Joe Gutmann, and Assistant Superintendent Lynn Wheat.
The classroom was dedicated on March 25, 2014, at Central High School. The dedication event included recognition of educators, alumni, and partners by Joe Gutmann (Law & Government teacher at Central), comments by Professor Laura Rothstein about the law school's partnership, and a Keynote Address by Fred Moore, a 2005 graduate of the Central Law Magnet program, who is now an attorney in the Louisville-Metro Public Defenders Office. JCPS Superintendent Donna Hargens cut the ribbon at the event. Others joining her for that honor were JCPS School Board President Diana Porter, JCPS Assistant Superindent Lynn Wheat, and Professor Laura Rothstein. Dean Susan Duncan and several students from the law school joined the celebration.
Learn more by downloading the Central High School Partnership brochure.
Central High School Law and Government Magnet Program to Dedicate New Courtroom/Classroom
Posted March 21st, 2014 by Virginia MattinglyThe Law and Government Magnet program was established at Central High School in 1986. Partnerships with the Louisville Bar Association (beginning in 1992) and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law (beginning in 2001) have built on the success of the program. Students in the program now serve in summer internships facilitated by the LBA and are taught substantive law and writing skills related to law by law students from the Brandeis School of Law. Central students have participated in national court competitions through the program and two students placed first and second nationally in 2011.
In recognition of the success of the program, the Jefferson County Public School System has renovated the law and government magnet classroom to create a moot court space. The new configuration will allow students to practice courtroom skills and to apply what they are learning in that setting. The classroom will be dedicated on March 25, 2014, at 11:00 am at Central High School. Superintendent Donna Hargens will cut the ribbon at the event. Fred Moore is the first Central student to participate in the program developed by the Brandeis School of Law to receive a law degree. He is now an attorney in the Public Defender's Office and he will deliver remarks on this special occasion.
Everyone who has been involved with the Central Partnership is encouraged to attend.Trustees Award
Posted March 11th, 2014 by Rebecca B. WimbergThe Board of Trustees of the University of Louisville established The Trustees Award in 1989 to honor faculty who individually impact the future of our students. (Note: in the world you are but one person, but to one person you are the world.) The award is intended to recognize faculty (full- or part-time; undergraduate, graduate, or professional; even groups of faculty) who have had, currently or in the past, an extraordinary impact on students. The recipient will receive a $5,000 cash award and a commemorative plaque, which will be presented at University Commencement ceremonies in May, 2014. A plaque will also be placed in the Student Activities Center in honor of the recipient. Members of the Board of Trustees provide the cash award through personal gifts to the University of Louisville Foundation, Inc. The 2014 award will be announced prior to Commencement. All faculty (with the exception of previous winners - Abramson and Arnold) are eligible to receive this award. Nominations will be accepted from any member of the University community (faculty/students/staff/administrators/ Trustees) until March 18, 2014.
The nomination must consist of the Nomination Form and letters of support outlining the nominee's qualifications and contributions to the University community. The award form can be downloaded at http://www.louisville.edu/president/trustees/TrusteeAward.doc.
Nominations should be submitted to The Trustees Award Committee, Board of Trustees, University of Louisville, 102 Grawemeyer Hall, Belknap Campus, Louisville, KY 40292.
Course Schedules for Fall 2014 and Spring 2015
Posted March 6th, 2014 by Rebecca B. WimbergThe course schedules for Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 are posted on the Law School webpage under "Academics" at "Resources." These schedules are tentative and may change prior to registration. Check the webpage for the most current schedule. Contact Associate Dean Nowka if you have any questions.
Reflections of The Mighty Walk
Posted February 27th, 2014 by Virginia MattinglyWhile on a break from classes at Duke University, he joined thousands of protesters at that monumentous rally in Montgomery, Alabama on March 25, 1965. It was there that he bonded with six young African-American college students who gathered together to hear the great orator speak. Just two years later, the legendary civil rights leader accepted the invitation of Mr. Porter and his classmates to speak at the law school.
The march into the city was on streets lined by locals taunting and cursing with racial epithets, but the crowd of marchers dominated the city that day and made its presence felt not only to the local populace and state leaders but also to the nation as a whole. The national press decided to cover this whole event (some claimed it was only because a White minister had been killed). More than 25,000 marchers heard the speakers ask for the right to vote for all citizens of Alabama. Best known of those speeches was certainly the one by Martin Luther King, sometimes referred to as the "How Long, Not Long" or the "Our God Is Marching On" speech.
Visit Liberty Magazine to read the full story.
The public is invited to view several of the rare photos included in the story at a free event on Friday, February 28 to celebrate Black History Month. The Martin Luther King Jr. Photo Dedication & Graduates of Color Reunion will begin at 5:30 PM in the Allen Courtroom.
Law Librarian, Robin Harris, was recently interviewed about the special collection by WFPL News in their report, "University of Louisville to Unveil Never-Before Seen Martin Luther King Jr. Photos". She also participated in a video produced by UofL's Office of Communications & Media, "UofL Remembers MLK visit", that includes testimonials of students who were in attendance on that historic day.
University IT Closing Computer Repair April 30
Posted February 27th, 2014 by James A. BeckerUniversity IT's personal computer repair service will close permanently April 30, 2014. This change only affects repair for personally purchased computer hardware. Repairs in progress will be completed, but no additional equipment will be accepted for repair after this date. Help with malware removal, passwords and other software-related issues will remain available from the iTech Connect office located on the lower level of Miller Information Technology Center (where McAlister's is located).
UofL Sport Administration Speaker Summit
Posted February 27th, 2014 by Rebecca B. WimbergAre you interested in the business of sports? This year the Brandeis School of Law and the Black Law Student Association have teamed up with the The College of Education and Human Development's Sport Administration program to support their fifth annual speaker series. The event brings together alumni, students, and leading professionals in the sporting industry. This year's Speaker Summit will feature various sport industry professionals with experience in sport law, sport communication, and sport administration. This year's Speaker Summit will be headlined by ESPN's Jemele Hill. The last panel will include speakers Darren Heitner and Geoffrey Rapp brought in by the law school to talk about legal issue in college sports.
The event will be held on Friday, February 28 from 8 AM until 2:20 PM. The schedule of events can be seen here. Registration is $25 for law students, which includes both breakfast and lunch. The place to register for the event is here. The Office of Professional Development is able to defer the cost of registration for the first 10 current law students to register and attend the conference. Bring your registration materials and proof of attendance to Prof. Lars Smith.
Students wishing to attend only the last panel on legal issues in college sports may attend that session for free.
There's a New Face at the Law School
Posted February 25th, 2014 by Rebecca B. WimbergMeet Camilo Ortiz. Camilo joined Brandeis School of Law as an Admissions Counselor in January 2014. He received his B.A. in Liberal Studies from University of California, Riverside and his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law. His primary duty is recruitment, with an emphasis on underrepresented groups and pipeline programs.
Stop by the Admissions Office and introduce yourself.
Professor Powell to Receive Trailblazer Award Today
Posted February 25th, 2014 by Rebecca B. WimbergCelebrate Black History Month with the LBA. Today at 4 p.m., as we celebrate Black History Month, Professor Cedric Merllin Powell will receive the 2014 Justice William E. McAnulty, Jr. Trailblazer Award.
Dr. Tracy K'Meyer, chair of the Department of History at the University of Louisville, will recount the long and multifaceted struggle for school desegregation in Louisville. Dr. K'Meyer is the author of From Brown to Meredith: The Long Struggle for School Desegregation in Louisville, Kentucky.
A reception to honor Professor Powell will begin at 5 p.m. following the program.
IT Staff Assisting with KY Bar Exam
Posted February 24th, 2014 by Christie BallengerThe IT staff will be out of the office from about 3:00 p.m. Monday, February 24, through the entire day Tuesday, February 25, 2014, to assist with computer administration of the Kentucky Bar Exam in Lexington.
Since February 2008, the Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions has used Extegrity's Exam4 for the Kentucky and Multistate Essay Exams.
Good luck to our graduates taking the Bar Exam!


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Thread: Warning: simplexml_load_file
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Warning: simplexml_load_file
I've been working on this for 2 days and can't figure it out. All I want to do is show the last 5 tweets from a twitter account on my homepage. The code below works fine when I call the file by it self: http://www.mysite.com/gettwit.php
But when I try and SSI include it  it gives me:
Warning: simplexml_load_file(http://twitter.com/statuses/user_tim...es.xml?count=5) [function.simplexml-load-file]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.0 400 Bad Request in /hermes/web02/b1918/moo.mysitecom/gettwit.php on line 8
Warning: simplexml_load_file() [function.simplexml-load-file]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/kingjames.xml?count=5" in /hermes/web02/b1918/moo.mysitecom/gettwit.php on line 8
could not connect
My homepage is .shtml and has other SSI working fine. I've tried using urlencode and it worked a few times then went back to giving this error. How does something work and then just stop working without editing the code?!!! What am I missing? Also how do I add an error handler so it shows "Cannot Connect" when it has problems? Thanks for any help. This is frustrating.
PHP Code:<?php
function getLastXTwitterStatus($userid,$x){
$url = 'http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/'.$userid.'.xml?count='.$x.'';
///$url = urlencode($url);
$xml = simplexml_load_file($url) or die('could not connect');
echo '
';
foreach($xml->status as $status){
$text = twitterify( $status->text );
echo '
'.utf8_decode($text).'
';
echo '
';
function twitterify($ret) {
$ret = preg_replace("#(^|[\n ])([\w]+?://[\w]+[^ \"\n\r\t< ]*)#", "\\1\\2", $ret);
$ret = preg_replace("#(^|[\n ])((www|ftp)\.[^ \"\t\n\r< ]*)#", "\\1\\2", $ret);
$ret = preg_replace("/@(\w+)/", "@\\1", $ret);
$ret = preg_replace("/#(\w+)/", "#\\1", $ret);
return $ret;
?>Last edited by daileycon; 01-23-2012 at 07:34 PM.
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You already do show that it cannot connect. You need to reduce the value of your error reporting or add a suppression (@) to the simple_xml_load_file so it doesn't trigger the warning.
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Just a question. Did you choose that method over this one?
I personally use that one, and return a json object. Is the api.twitter.com a more up to date API?
Useful function to retrieve difference in times
The best PHP resource
A good PHP FAQ
PLEASE remember to wrap your code in [PHP] tags.
PHP Code:
// Replace this
// With this
// Then check for values/forms. Some IE versions don't send the submit button
Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live.
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Yeah, I found this about an hour after I made this post and is working fine.
My next challenge is to randomly pick a username from a list and use that username and to have it print the username before the tweets like:Code:

echo {userid}."tweets:";
Then show the tweets.


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- Lichtschutzfaktor UPF 30+
- Leicht
- Feuchtigkeittransportierend
- Schnelltrocknend
- Aktive Polygiene®-Geruchshemmung
- Abgerundeter Saum
- Brusttaschen mit Druckknopfverschluss
Fit: Standard Paßform
Fabric :100% nylon
Avg. Weight (oz./g): 6.3oz / 178g (L)
- Apres favorite (Review by Peter)
Like the Growler shirt, the Termini is as good for mtb'ing and hiking as it is for climbing.
The cut allows movement, while the lower torso doesn't flap in the breeze. And, the fabric dried really quickly.
My most frequent use is as the shirt I throw on when I get back to the trailhead. Unlike cotton/etc it doesn't feel gross to put on while I'm still sweaty and gross, and it won't soak up my stink.(Am 28.09.14 gepostet)
- Bike rodeo (Review by Tex)
I love the western flair of this versatile shirt, and with the technical fabric it works for active or casual use. The material is about the right weight, light but not flimsy. The fit is trim but not tight and true to size.
(Am 22.04.14 gepostet)


text:
15-Year-Old Developing a 3D Printer 10x Faster Than Anything On the Market
Re:Another child making unsupported claims (203 comments)
I'm skeptical since there doesn't seem to be an actual patent application
Announcing: Slashdot Deals - Explore geek apps, games, gadgets and more. (what is this?)
We are sorry to see you leave - Beta is different and we value the time you took to try it out. Before you decide to go, please take a look at some value-adds for Beta and learn more about it. Thank you for reading Slashdot, and for making the site better!
Re:Another child making unsupported claims (203 comments)
I'm skeptical since there doesn't seem to be an actual patent application
Re:Pragmatic choice (229 comments)
3. So how did it come to pass that Rudd won, yet Labor's FTTH plan died and got replaced by the Liberal Party's FTTN?
The Labor party lost and Rudd has subsequently quit as a Member of Parliament
Re:Don't they have an fiber to the node cable netw (229 comments)
I used to live with an Optus cable technician and the Telstra and Optus networks are not Fibre to the Home. They are Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial networks, so fibre to a node point and then coaxial to the homes that node services, with only a few nodes per suburb. It's still better than ADSL but the copper component still limits the overall speeds.
Re:Specs for the interested (168 comments)
All the press releases aren't particularly clear, but it seems the next iteration will have 4 processor nodes per cartridge which should make it more feasible for creating HPC.
Re:Specs for the interested (168 comments)
One of the services that you can buy from a hosting company is your own dedicated physical server, this will allow them to sell that service cheaper than a Xeon server, but still marked up higher than a virtual.
Re:450 servers, not 1800 (168 comments)
1800 threads isn't particularly impressive in an entire rack considering filling the same rack space with blade servers you can easily get over 2000 threads.
Re:Specs for the interested (168 comments)
It looks like a decent option for hosting companies to sell dedicated web servers to people, or internally for a company that is running virtual desktops
450 servers, not 1800 (168 comments)
Someone at Phoronix really needs to learn basic math. The Chassis is 4.3U and hold 45 of these Moonshot servers, so a 47U rack could fit 10 chassis' for a total of 450 servers.
Re:Ouya (156 comments)
You just have to take Miyamoto's words to heart - a delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is bad forever.
I'll counter with Daikatana and Duke Nukem Forever
Re:Good (459 comments)
The request would be closer to "Hi, this is Bill. You have an account at Bank of America with account number 5551212 , what's your name, address, date of birth and social security number?"
Re:Voice-only texting interfaces and Bad UIs (417 comments)
The android equivalent is Vlingo, providing your phone has at least Android 2.1
Re:UK Plutonium (139 comments)
Protons. Electrons have no appreciable mass. But it would be easier to add protons to iridium to make gold.
Re:Samsung's visibility (239 comments)
I looked at the numbers that were used for those graphs and it's incredibly misleading. It cherry picks data to make it look like Samsung has a vastly higher marketing expenditure than other companies. The comparisons are also against companies that are really only in a few markets vs the nine that Samsung Electronics are involved in.
Based on the 2011 annual reports.
- Samsung lists $2.9 billion for advertising expenses and $4.5 billion on Sales promotion expenses. (total $7.4 billion)
- Coca Cola lists $3.2 billion for advertising expenses and $5.8 billion for Promotions and Marketing programs (total $9 billion)
- While Apple list $0.93 billion for advertising expenses, that is the only expense they give a value for in their SG&A of $7.6 billion which includes retail costs, marketing, professional services, advertising and "other".
All that data shows is that everyone else hides their actual marketing expenditure better.
Re:Too little, too late (56 comments)
Samsung Electronics also covers their home appliances. I've seen more advertising for Samsung fridges and washing machines than phones/tablets.
Re:Car analogy (392 comments)
That combination has been in existence for ~70 years, so the patent will have expired long ago
It's a third party not the ATO (84 comments)
A separate company that is managing a Publication Ordering Service for the Tax Office is storing passwords in plain text. I had to help set up access to the ATO portal at my last job and it requires installing company specific certificates per user or to be running a specific security application which, requires installing company specific certificates, the for the login screen to even show up
Re:This is what I get after installing in Debian x (313 comments)
Apparently the latest version in Debian is 2.13 this thread suggests using the version from the experimental branch
Re:i have purchased the affected products. (709 comments)
Other way around. Horse owners/riders are crazier than the horses.
Re:60-80% but I wish it were 0% (196 comments)
But the poll isn't limited to computer screens, add in televisions and cinema screens, also with in-car GPS you can easily be spending more time in front of screens than you realise.
Re:Summary (345 comments)
My domain (a
After having one created mail goes through, but they seem to automatically be sent to the Junk folder with This message looks suspicious to our SmartScreen filters even though I don't see how. Maybe it's because I haven't had my domain registered with their third party "Safe Senders" list.


text:
Kath Rothwell was running a review contest, and she had a link to Bad Press: The Worst Critical Reviews Ever! on her blog. Which started me thinking about one of my favorite non-fiction pieces of all time, Mark Twain's "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences." It's exactly what the title sounds like: Twain uses his considerable wit and talent to rip James Fenimore Cooper a new one. Actually, several new ones. Even if you enjoy Cooper's novels (like I do), chances are you'll laugh until you wheeze. A few years ago I read it aloud to The Very Tall Husband (back then just The Very Tall Boyfriend) while we were on a long roadtrip, and he laughed so hard he almost ran the car off the road. A quick Google revealed that the essay is available in full on-line, so for those of you have haven't read it yet through Kate's blog entry, here it is again. If you're reading this at work, try not to have a seizure while giggling, especially when you come to the part about the Cooper Indians.
Here is a preview bit of snarkage, which isn't quite as funny as the bit with the Indians, but comes pretty close:
Cooper's gift in the way of invention was not a rich endowment; but such as it was he liked to work it, he was pleased with the effects, and indeed he did some quite sweet things with it. In his little box of stage properties he kept six or eight cunning devices, tricks, artifices for his savages and woodsmen to deceive and circumvent each other with, and he was never so happy as when he was working these innocent things and seeing them go. A favorite one was to make a moccasined person tread in the tracks of the moccasined enemy, and thus hide his own trail. Cooper wore out barrels and barrels of moccasins in working that trick. Another stage-property that he pulled out of his box pretty frequently was his broken twig. He prized his broken twig above all the rest of his effects, and worked it the hardest. It is a restful chapter in any book of his when somebody doesn't step on a dry twig and alarm all the reds and whites for two hundred yards around. Every time a Cooper person is in peril, and absolute silence is worth four dollars a minute, he is sure to step on a dry twig. There may be a hundred handier things to step on, but that wouldn't satisfy Cooper. Cooper requires him to turn out and find a dry twig; and if he can't do it, go and borrow one. In fact, the Leather Stocking Series ought to have been called the Broken Twig Series.
Mark Twain: One smart asshole. We bow down to thy altar, O Great Clemens.


text:
How to Marijuana Seminar: Colorado Springs, CO.
Colorado Cannabis: Start, Grow, Brand, Expand Your Business: The Business and Legal Regulatory Models - Seminar + Investor Summit
When: Saturday, January 31st, 2015.
Where: Wyndham Grand Mining Exchange 8 S. Nevada Ave Colorado Springs 80903
Event: $299 per person
Jan. 31st: MMJBA - Welcome Breakfast Reception and Networking - open to public - 8am - 9am
MMJBA - Main Event - "How To Canna Business Seminar" - book online in advance - limited seating
Networking Coffee 8am - 9am (breakfast included) Mining Exchange Hotel
Seminar Main Event 9am - 4:20pm The Rules, Regs and Best Business Practices
100: General Application Process
200: Licensing
300: The Licensed Premises
400: Medical Marijuana Centers + Retail Marijuana Stores
500: Optional Premises Cultivation Operation
600: Marijuana Infused Products and Extracting Manufacturing Facilities
700: Marijuana Testing Facilities
800: Transport and Warehousing
900: Business Records and Reporting
1000: Labeling, Packaging, and Product Safety
1100: Signage and Advertising
1200: Enforcement
1300: Discipline
1400: Division, Local and Law Enforcement Procedures
4:20 pm – 4:40 pm: Keynote Speaker: Alina Lekser, Venture Capitalist - "Funding Your Business and Venture Capital."
Business Consultant and Trainer – "How to Pitch a Great Investor Presentation – Plans and Insights"
- BONUS EVENT: Jan. 31st - 5pm - Midnight - StudioA64.com America's "Original Canna Club"After Party and Networking Nosh
MMJBA - After Party and Business Networking Nosh - MMJBA alumni, attendees and guests - 5pm - midnight. 420 Friendly.
BONUS EVENTS: Feb. 1st, MMJBA - Investor Round-table - "Pitch Your Business Idea to Qualified Investors for Potential Capital Funding"
(15-min time slot.) 11am - 1pm
The MMJBA offers comprehensive step-by-step training platforms covering critical topics: qualification process, state applications, seed to sale tracking, medicine and money, retail & cultivation operations, choice of entity, commercial leasing, Marijuana insurance, banking, security requirements, inventory obligations, State filings, taxes, special allocations, federal tax issues, compliance and tracking, accounting, theft prevention, and essential tips to avoid failure and increase your chances of success.
What do our MMJBA Alumni have to say?